Cigar wielding wealthy motorist entitlements: the @sarah_capper column

Sitting on the train, surrounded by other poor people, sans cars, it’s hard not to wonder whether the Abbott Government is becoming increasingly out of touch with its constituents. Sure, there are a lot of discrepancies on public transport – for example, on the not-so-rough Sandringham line, taking in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, I’m guessing some […]

East West Link a collision course for Victorian state election: @tackvera reports

In the lead-up to the Victorian state election in November 2014, the East West Link tunnel toll road continues to be a divisive and unpopular issue for the Premier Denis Napthine and his Liberal Government. The toll road is projected to cost $8 billion to connect the Eastern Freeway and Alexandra Parade to Citylink as […]

Ain’t nothing like the real thing: #GriffithVotes candidates’ forum @GriffithElects reports

[clear] Video by Mark Doyle @ffrickenstein Both Bill Glasson and Terri Butler held virtual ‘town-hall’ meetings in recent days, using new technology which enabled them to talk simultaneously with audiences of 10,000 and more. These virtual meetings gave all the control to the candidates and their teams, allowed them to target particular sections of the […]

Doing politics differently: @indigocathy maiden speech

Madam Speaker, Colleagues, special guests, friends and family. Madam Speaker, warm congratulations on your election. I thank you and my colleagues for your warm welcome. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and custodians of this land, both past and present. Today I am going to share a story – about myself, about my electorate […]

Lianna Sliwczynski, Batman Candidate, The Australian Sex Party

[clear] By Bumpy Favell 4 Sept 2013 I requested an interview with Lianna Sliwczynski, the Australian Sex Party, ASP candidate for Batman in late July 2013, along with all of the other Batman candidates. If candidates didn’t reply within a few days, I kept contacting them. Three responded promptly: Phillip Sutton, Save the Planet Party, […]

Labor voter @jenoutwest turns Green in Lalor

By Jenny Bates  @jenoutwest 3 September, 2013 The journey is almost over, and my mission to better understand Lalor candidates has proven to be mission impossible. I naively believed the candidates would be keen to answer questions from any local. My first plan of attack was to ask our retiring MP, former prime minister Julia Gillard […]

Public transport versus east-west link tollroad issue in Melbourne electorates reports @takvera

By John Englart 30 August 2013 The Victorian Government is proceeding with the East-West link tunnel tollroad which would connect up the Eastern Freeway and Alexandra Parade to Citylink severely impacting Royal Park and Moonee Ponds Creek. It is an $8 billion project with high impacts on the seat of Melbourne, but also traffic and […]

Bennelong candidates forum: @preciouspress reports

By Jack Sumner 31 August 2013 Seven of the eight candidates were on stage for a public forum organised by the Northern District Times this week. Missing was DLP candidate Lachlan McCaffrey, who plays rugby for Eastwood and was training in preparation for Shute Shield finals this weekend. His father Simon, the DLP Senate candidate, came […]

The Greens candidate in Forde, Sally Spain: @stephaniedale22 reports

By Stephanie Dale 30 August 2013 Saturday September 7 is World Endangered Species Day – beautifully timed for an election in which ‘the environment’ (euphemism for the world that is our home) has barely rated a mention. “Where,” I ask Greens candidate for the seat of Forde, Sally Spain, “is the environment in the 2013 election?” […]

Virgin voter @marozzi_m is here to help other first-timers

By Matilda Marozzi @marozzi_m 15 August 2013 Young people: politically disengaged, apathetic and un-enrolled. This seems to be the portrayal of Gen Y as the 2013 election approaches. As a 20-year-old election virgin I know this is not always the case. Future Politicians is a website and radio show I run with fellow reporter and election first-timer […]